MSS 2/076-06: Family correspondence, 1885 - 1929
Series
Scope and Contents
he collection consists primarily of letters dated from the 1880s and 1890s written by William W. Keen to his daughter, Margaret. There are also some letters from other Keen family members addressed to Ms. Keen as well as newspaper clippings.
The earliest letters (folder 1.1) are addressed to Ms. Keen as a young girl. These brief notes advise Ms. Keen to be careful of her misspellings (among other things) and include two notes written by Dr. Keen in 1886 with his left hand (due to an injury). A letter dated July 10, 1897 (also in folder 1.1) and marked "Private" discusses the death of "your dear mother" upon the first anniversary of her passing.
Folder 1.2 includes letters from Europe (aboard the "Umbria" and from Oxford, Paris, Munich, Interlachen, and Canterbury). Folder 1.4 includes a pocket-sized promotional calendar from The West End Trust and Safe Deposit Company. Letters in Folder 1.4 begin an intermittent but long-term discussion of finances between father and daughter. Folder 1.5 includes a note with a doodle (possibly drawn by Dr. Keen?) Folder 1.5 also includes a letter dated Jan. 18th, 1897 discussing a "Diplomatic Corps" reception attended by Dr. Keen and "the girls" with President and Mrs. Cleveland at the White House. Folder 1.6 includes a letter dated February 17, 1897 that discussed Dora’s election as "school director." Folder 1.7 includes a document from the "Annual Banquet of the Alumni Association of Jefferson Medical College," dated May 13, 1897.
There is a significant gap in the series of letters between the time of the second to last letter (dated September 27, 1897) and the final letter (dated June 20, 1928).
The remaining series include correspondence from Florence Keen, "Mary", E.D. Gillespie, Dora Keen, and "Aunt Hattie" to Margaret Keen. It also includes letters from Dr. Keen to his daughters Dora and Florence as well as a group of letters to Dr. Keen from assorted individuals.
The newsclippings’ folder includes a feature article on Dr. Keen from The Philadelphia Press, dated July 23, 1899. It also includes a letter to the editor written by Dr. Keen, and a cartoon that features Dr. Keen. [N.B. -- Newspaper clippings included by Dr. Keen in letters to his daughter Margaret have been filed with the letter that they accompanied and not in the newsclippings folder.]
The earliest letters (folder 1.1) are addressed to Ms. Keen as a young girl. These brief notes advise Ms. Keen to be careful of her misspellings (among other things) and include two notes written by Dr. Keen in 1886 with his left hand (due to an injury). A letter dated July 10, 1897 (also in folder 1.1) and marked "Private" discusses the death of "your dear mother" upon the first anniversary of her passing.
Folder 1.2 includes letters from Europe (aboard the "Umbria" and from Oxford, Paris, Munich, Interlachen, and Canterbury). Folder 1.4 includes a pocket-sized promotional calendar from The West End Trust and Safe Deposit Company. Letters in Folder 1.4 begin an intermittent but long-term discussion of finances between father and daughter. Folder 1.5 includes a note with a doodle (possibly drawn by Dr. Keen?) Folder 1.5 also includes a letter dated Jan. 18th, 1897 discussing a "Diplomatic Corps" reception attended by Dr. Keen and "the girls" with President and Mrs. Cleveland at the White House. Folder 1.6 includes a letter dated February 17, 1897 that discussed Dora’s election as "school director." Folder 1.7 includes a document from the "Annual Banquet of the Alumni Association of Jefferson Medical College," dated May 13, 1897.
There is a significant gap in the series of letters between the time of the second to last letter (dated September 27, 1897) and the final letter (dated June 20, 1928).
The remaining series include correspondence from Florence Keen, "Mary", E.D. Gillespie, Dora Keen, and "Aunt Hattie" to Margaret Keen. It also includes letters from Dr. Keen to his daughters Dora and Florence as well as a group of letters to Dr. Keen from assorted individuals.
The newsclippings’ folder includes a feature article on Dr. Keen from The Philadelphia Press, dated July 23, 1899. It also includes a letter to the editor written by Dr. Keen, and a cartoon that features Dr. Keen. [N.B. -- Newspaper clippings included by Dr. Keen in letters to his daughter Margaret have been filed with the letter that they accompanied and not in the newsclippings folder.]
Dates
- 1885 - 1929
Extent
1 Box (19 folders)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Custodial History
The source of this collection of William W. Keen correspondence is W.W. Keen Butcher (the son of Margaret Keen Butcher). The collection was given to the College, February 12, 1998.
The collection was processed and catalogued in July, 1999.
The collection was processed and catalogued in July, 1999.
Inventory
Ser.
1 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher), 1885-1929
1.1 (16 items) 1885-1888 1.2 (12 items) 1889-1891 1.3 (13 items) 1892-1895 1.4 (15 items) 1896 June 25 – 1896 Oct. 22 1.5 (10 items) 1896 Oct. 25 – 1896 Dec. 12 1.6 (16 items) 1897 Jan. 9 – 1897 April 17 1.7 (10 items) 1897 April 22 – 1897 May 31 1.8 (14 items) 1897 June 4 – 1897 Sep. 18 1.9 (1 item) 1928
2 Correspondence, Dora Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (6 items) 1890-1896
3 Correspondence, Florence Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (2 items) 1890
4 Correspondence, Charles Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (1 item) 1897
5 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Florence Keen (1 item) 1894
6 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Dora Keen (2 items) 1893-1894
7 Correspondence, "La tante E." To Dora Keen (1 item) 1897
8 Miscellaneous Correspondence, To W. W. Keen (4 items) 1894-1897 [n.d.]
(1 item) From E. B. Wall 1894 June 18 " From George D. B. Darby 1897 May 27 " From Mary E. Dore [n.d.] Sept. 1 " From E. D. Gillespie [n.d.] Oct. 16
9 Miscellaneous Correspondence, To Margaret Keen (Butcher) (2 items) 1897
(1 item) From Aunt Hattie 1897 May 16 " From R. F. Smith 1897 July 26
10 Correspondence, W. W. Keen, To "Keens" (1 item) 1929
11 Newsclippings (3 items) 1899-1922 [n.d.]
(1 item) 1899 July 23 "Dr. W. W. Keen, Philadelphia’s Famous Surgeon" " 1922 March 15 "Nestor of American Surgery" " [n.d.] "Free for All"
1 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher), 1885-1929
1.1 (16 items) 1885-1888 1.2 (12 items) 1889-1891 1.3 (13 items) 1892-1895 1.4 (15 items) 1896 June 25 – 1896 Oct. 22 1.5 (10 items) 1896 Oct. 25 – 1896 Dec. 12 1.6 (16 items) 1897 Jan. 9 – 1897 April 17 1.7 (10 items) 1897 April 22 – 1897 May 31 1.8 (14 items) 1897 June 4 – 1897 Sep. 18 1.9 (1 item) 1928
2 Correspondence, Dora Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (6 items) 1890-1896
3 Correspondence, Florence Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (2 items) 1890
4 Correspondence, Charles Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (1 item) 1897
5 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Florence Keen (1 item) 1894
6 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Dora Keen (2 items) 1893-1894
7 Correspondence, "La tante E." To Dora Keen (1 item) 1897
8 Miscellaneous Correspondence, To W. W. Keen (4 items) 1894-1897 [n.d.]
(1 item) From E. B. Wall 1894 June 18 " From George D. B. Darby 1897 May 27 " From Mary E. Dore [n.d.] Sept. 1 " From E. D. Gillespie [n.d.] Oct. 16
9 Miscellaneous Correspondence, To Margaret Keen (Butcher) (2 items) 1897
(1 item) From Aunt Hattie 1897 May 16 " From R. F. Smith 1897 July 26
10 Correspondence, W. W. Keen, To "Keens" (1 item) 1929
11 Newsclippings (3 items) 1899-1922 [n.d.]
(1 item) 1899 July 23 "Dr. W. W. Keen, Philadelphia’s Famous Surgeon" " 1922 March 15 "Nestor of American Surgery" " [n.d.] "Free for All"
Creator
- From the Collection: Keen, William W. (William Williams) (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
215-399-2001
library@collegeofphysicians.org
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
215-399-2001
library@collegeofphysicians.org
